The other day a friend accused me of optimism. This didn?t sit well. We were talking (ponderously) about the future of religion, and I said the church will outlast every dire trend. The church rose against all odds from the start, stirred to life by Jesus? resurrection?an impossibility that nevertheless happened. Predictions about the terminal decline of faith never pan out.

My friend said that sounds too optimistic. I protested: It?s not optimism but hope. Optimism looks on the bright side, ..read more